The Northern Beaches could be about to get a dramatic skyline makeover, with ambitious plans for eight residential and commercial towers at Warringah Mall, including two skyscrapers that would dwarf every existing building in the area.
Scentre Group, the retail giant behind Warringah Mall and 36 other Westfields across Australia, has lodged a State Significant Development (SSD) application seeking approval for a mixed-use precinct that would fundamentally reshape the Brookvale landscape. The shopping centre owner is seeking state approval for towers twice the height of Northern Beaches’ tallest building.
Stage one works include an application for eight mixed-use towers, ranging from 12 to 39 storeys, which will include 1,500 apartments (five per cent allocated as affordable housing), an estimated 2,500 car spaces and 6,900sqm of public open space.
Earlier this year, the NSW Government’s newly established Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) recommended Scentre Group’s development application be declared a state significant development, which means it bypasses Council approval (you can read our earlier coverage here).
“We are pleased by the NSW Housing Delivery Authority’s recommendation that Westfield Warringah be declared a state significant development, with the potential to create up to 1,500 residential dwellings,” Scentre Group Chief Executive Officer, Elliott Rusanow, told Manly Observer earlier this year.
“This is another significant long-term growth opportunity for our business. We look forward to continuing our work with all stakeholders on the future of Westfield Warringah.”
A separate, but concurrent Planning Proposal, will also be submitted to rezone the site of the proposed towers from E2 Commercial Centre and E4 General Industrial to MU1 Mixed Use.
The SSD application includes stage one works to construct two mixed-use towers, additional retail on the northern edge of Warringah Mall, relocation of the existing bus terminal and public open space. This will see the demolition of the existing medical centre, Bunnings, Super Cheap Auto, a gymnasium and the loss of 450 car spaces.
Proposed Tower 1, located where Bunnings currently stands, would be 34 storeys and include 350 apartments and have non-residential use including retail, food and beverages, community uses as well as five-storey parking podium. For context, the tallest building on the Northern Beaches is the Meriton Lighthouse tower in Dee Why which stands at 17 storeys, making the Warringah Mall Tower 1 proposal double the height of the Lighthouse.
Proposed Tower 2, proposed for the car parking area directly behind Aldi, would be 19 storeys and include non-residential uses such as commercial offices, retail and parking within the podium.
Stage one also includes the first elements toward a 2,040sqm town square development to provide a connection between the B-Line interchange and Warringah Mall and would include areas for play, recreation and outdoor seating.
While the development aligns with Council’s 15-year vision for that area of Brookvale, known as The Brookvale Structure Plan (BSP), as a state significant development, Scentre Group’s application is not subject to Council scrutiny. Council’s vision only accounted for maximum residential heights of 12 storeys, much lower than the 39 storeys planned by Scentre Group.
The Brookvale Structure Plan focuses on the mid-long-term growth in the area in terms of economic vitality, transport and connectivity, and housing availability (with an additional 1,350 new dwellings). It aimed at preserving Brookvale’s character amid forecasted population growth.
Northern Beaches Mayor, Sue Heins, shared her concerns about the need for the NSW Government to invest in transport and services in the region to match any growth in housing and population on the Beaches.
You will find this story and a full development feature in our print newspaper hitting the Northern Beaches this week!
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